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For sheer gutsy blues and a high-energy performance, you'd have to go a long way to beat the Band of Friends.Formed to keep the wonderful music of Rory Gallagher alive, with Rory's former bass player Gerry McAvoy, they drew a huge crowd to the Rock stage on Saturday afternoon, the powerhouse trio, which includes Alex Harvey's former drummer Ted McKenna and guitarist Marcel Scherpenzeel, put on a wonderful show. It's no wonder they were European Blues Award winners in 2013.

Marcel's lyrical guitar playing was simply brilliant as Gerry worked the crowd. Songs included Leap of Faith, a great Tattooed Lady and Shadow Play. They packed so much energy into their set.A deserved encore saw Come Back Baby merge into Bullfrog Blues and the crowd went bonkers.In my notes I wrote "Rory would have approved". I'm sure he would.

Another award-winning band are Babajack who opened up with their rootsy bluesy tunes. Singer Becs was in great form and Trevor on slide guitar, with a touch so fine you could have cut the air with a knife.Falling Hard, and Son House's Death Letter Blues were given the full Babajack treatment, but it was "the old English folk song" that brought many of the crowd to their feet. Gallows Pole - as covered by legendary rockers Led Zeppelin - was full earthy energy with great harp and excellent bass and drums.

The large audience were treated to nagging rhythms throughout the set which included a new song - written in conjunction with the aforesaid Pete Brown - Sitting At The Back Door which was well received. A storming version of Leadbelly's Black Betty brought the set to a climatic end. An encore brought Skin and Bone. This was a triumph for the Malvern-based band.

John Coglan's Quo were onto a winner the moment they stepped onto the Rock stage. They played hit after hit from the Status Quo back catalogue - Pictures of Matchstickmen, Down The Dustpipe, Rain and Hold Your Back - but it was their version the Door's hit Roadhouse Blues that brought the house down. A rousing Down Down for the encore and the Quo fans lapped it all up.

Sunday saw R& B outfit Nine Below Zero open up at noon. They drew a decent crowd who were treated to a rip-roaring set. Guitarist Dennis Greaves with his trusty Gibson 335 opened up with Don't Point Your Finger at the Guitar Man. The songs came thick and fast - I Told You Once. Rockin' robin, Treat her right and new one "written 35 years ago" Johnny Weekend.The floor was bouncing as the band went through the gears

Mark Feltham on harp was on top form: Sugar beat and rhythm sweet, Down In the dirt again and then On the Road Again all featured superb harmonica - and a huge road from the crowd.A quick blast of the theme from the Old Grey Whistle Test and then a blues with I'm Tore Down with a scorching solo from Dennis.

He dedicated a song to former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson - Twenty Minutes Behind - with its ska beat.A quick blast of Sugar Pie Honey Bunch and the Festival had been given a very healthy dose of rhythm and blues.

Over on the Blues stage, Dave Kelly, one of the UK's top slide guitar players, played a fantastic hour long solo set, featuring Blind Lemon Jefferson's See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, Down in The Bottom, and Come on into my Kitchen.

The fact he was sitting underneath two large mirror balls was a little out of keeping with the trad blues but no-one seemed to care.None blues songs followed - Two More Bottles of Wine, and Dock of The Bay before he played his "busking song" - City of New Orleans.

The playing throughout was impeccable and kept the audience enthralled, particularly on Me and The Devil.Son House's Death Letter Blues was accompanied by dancing (is this a first?) and a rousing Dust My Blues wrapped up the set. Dave was worried about over-running with a few anxious checks of his watch. "You can over-run as much as you want" someone shouted out.

Del Broham and the Blue Devils played an entertaining set over in the Rock Stage. I'm ashamed to say I haven't come across Del before but was impressed with his stagecraft and guitar playing - a sort of cross between Johnny Winter and Freddie King. A full house were treated to Bobby Bland songs, blues rockers and even a country rock song in The Ballad of JD, homage to a certain liquor.Later in the set he was joined by singer Jerry Lee Mewis, another guitarist and a harmonica player. I counted seven on stage.

A special mention for Russell Sinclair who was up at 4.30am to drive from Plymouth to Skegness for a slot on the Introducing Stage. I was lucky to catch his solo acoustic blues and enjoyed his songs and his confident vocals. Shame there weren't more around to hear him play.

Some excellent guitar playing from Robbie McIntosh who appeared with his band early on Sunday evening. Dressed all in beige, he let his music do the talking. How he could make his guitars talk! With a great five piece band his set included Scarecrow "a song that has been very good to me", Wonderful World played on a slide, Missippippi John Hurt and Freddie King's CC Baby and a deserved encore.

The Blues Band are one of the British blues scenes veteran performers but at Skegness one of their members - Tom McGuiness - was missing. In stepped Pete Emery to play lead guitar and he didn't put a foot wrong.

You know what you are getting with this band - well crafted songs played really well.From the opening Come On In and I Can't Hold Out the band treated the audience to a great repertoire of blues classics. I particularly enjoyed the Muddy Water's classic Can't Be Satisfied, with Dave Kelly excelling.And how front man Paul Jones keeps on going I'll never know. Outstanding harp.

This was my first visit to this festival but in the words of Arny - I'll be back!

John Knighton